Panasonic ZS50 has a
12.0MP (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Panasonic LX5 has a
10.0MP 1/1.63-inch (8.07 x 5.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Venus Engine FHD processor.
Below you can see the ZS50 and LX5 sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Panasonic ZS50 and Panasonic LX5 Cameras
As seen above, Panasonic LX5 has a 1.6x Larger sensor area than Panasonic ZS50. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.
DxOMark Sensor Scores
Both Panasonic ZS50 and Panasonic LX5 sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, ZS50 has scored 44, 3 points higher than LX5.
Model
Overall
Color Depth
Dynamic Range
Low-light ISO
Panasonic ZS50
44
20.0 bits
11.2 Evs
138 ISO
Panasonic LX5
41
19.6 bits
10.8 Evs
132 ISO
Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each
of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the
Panasonic ZS50
or the
Panasonic LX5 ,
including hyperfocal distance.
One thing to watch when comparing these two: they have different sensor sizes
( versus 1/1.63-inch),
so compare them at the same framing rather than the same focal length.
Put the same focal length on the smaller sensor and it will show less depth of
field, not more, because it also crops tighter. The calculator shows the
full frame equivalent focal length for each body so you can match the framing.
